Stuart, left, and Cliff Richner have agreed to acquire L&M Publications, which produces the Freeport-Baldwin Leader, Merrick Life, Bellmore Life and Wantagh-Seaford Citizen.

Publishers Clifford and Stuart Richner announced July 10 that Richner Communications has agreed to acquire L&M Publications, a Long Island weekly newspaper group that includes Merrick Life, Bellmore Life, the Freeport-Baldwin Leader and the Wantagh-Seaford Citizen. Both Richner Communications and L&M are privately held companies, and terms of the sale were not announced. The sale is expected to close this quarter.

Stuart Richner said that the acquisition would expand the reach of the Herald Community Newspapers, the company’s 15-paper group, across the South Shore and solidify its place as the Town of Hempstead’s leading community news outlet.

“It’s a strategically sound move for us,” said Cliff Richner. “It strengthens our presence in the Freeport, Merrick and Bellmore communities and extends our reach eastward into Wantagh and Seaford, something we’ve been wanting to do for some time. It will enable us to better meet the needs of our advertisers.”

“It’s great to be a part of Richner Communications and watch the company grow throughout the years,” said Rhonda Glickman, RCI’s vice president of sales. “This new acquisition will give us even greater strength. I look forward to meeting people in our new territories.”

L&M’s flagship newspaper, Merrick Life, was founded in 1938. Faith and Johannes Laursen, both daily newspaper journalists, purchased it in 1958, adding Bellmore Life, the Freeport-Baldwin Leader and Wantagh-Seaford Citizen to their newspaper mix. Their daughter, Linda Toscano, has led the papers for many years as publisher, while her brother, Paul Laursen, has served as editor.

Comments

My condolences to the residents of Freeport, Baldwin, Merrick, Bellmore, Seaford, and Wantagh for losing your local papers. Richner Communications' formula is to publish a Newsday-lite paper – very little reporting on local activities. Oceanside's former local paper, The Oceanside Beacon which was bought out by Richner over 10 years ago, is still sorely missed by Oceanside residents.